Ballistic vest

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a ballistic vest which offers a ballistic resistance meeting NIJ2 Standard 0101.03 and comprises a stack of flexible unidirectional layers in which the unidirectional layers contain strong fibres and in which the fibres in a unidirectional layer run substantially parallel and are positioned at an angle of more than 0 degrees relative to fibres in an adjacent layer, said fibres being PBO fibres.

[0001] The invention relates to a ballistic vest which offers aballistic resistance meeting NIJ2 Standard 0101.03 and comprises a stackof flexible unidirectional layers (UD-layers) in which theunidirectional layers contain strong fibres and in which the fibres in aunidirectional layer run substantially parallel and are positioned at anangle of more than 0 degrees relative to fibres in an adjacent layer.

[0002] Such a vest is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,842.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,842 describes a ballistic vest which offers aballistic resistance meeting NIJ2 Standard 0101.03 and contains a stackof flexible unidirectional layers in which the unidirectional layerscontain aramid fibres and in which the fibres in a unidirectional layerrun substantially parallel and are positioned at an angle of 90 degreesrelative to fibres in an adjacent layer.

[0004] The drawback of such a vest is its relatively high weight. Theweight of a vest is indicated as the areal density, which is the weightof the stack of flexible layers that are needed in order to meet NIJ2Standard 0101.03 per unit of surface. The vests described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,926,842 require an areal density of 3.7 kg/m² in order to meet theNIJ2 Standard.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to provide a vest of a much lowerareal density.

[0006] This aim is achieved due to the strongfibres beingpoly(p-phenylene-2,6,-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibres.

[0007] With an areal density of 2.8 kg/m² the vest according to theinvention already meets NIJ2 Standard 0101.03.

[0008] An advantage of the vest according to the invention is that it ismore comfortable to wear owing to its lower weight.

[0009] The ballistic resistance of a vest can be classified according todifferent standards. One of those standards is NIJ Standard 0101.03,which defines different levels of protection. Thus, the NIJ2 Standardrequires a vest to be able to stop a .357 Magnum JSP as well as a 9 mmFMJ having a velocity of 426±15 m/s.

[0010] In addition to non-penetration of a projectile the degree of bodydeformation at the impact spot is a second requirement defined in NIJStandard 0101.03. This deformation is an indication of the projectileimpact trauma suffered by the wearer of a vest. In the NIJ2 Standard itis specified that the trauma should be less than 44 mm.

[0011] By a ballistic vest offering a ballistic resistance in accordancewith NIJ2 Standard 0101.03 is understood here and in the following avest having such an areal density that the above-mentioned standard isjust complied with. By ‘just’ is understood that the areal density isnot higher than the value which is required to prevent projectilepenetrations and a trauma bigger than 44 mm at the upper limit of theNIJ2 Standard, i.e. at a bullet velocity of 441 m/s, while at a highervelocity projectile penetration or a trauma bigger than 44 mm or acombination of these may occur.

[0012] The stack of UD layers can consist of one or more UD packs. Thestack of UD layers preferably consists of several UD packs, each ofwhich contains two or four UD layers. The packs are preferably providedwith a smooth film on either side, reducing the friction between thepacks and enhancing the flexibility of the stack.

[0013] By ‘fibres’ in this context are understood objects having alength that is much larger than its width and thickness. Fibres comprisecontinuous mono- and multifilaments as well as discontinuous filamentssuch as staple fibres or cut fibres.

[0014] “Strong fibres” are in this invention fibres having a strength ofat least 6 dN/tex, a modulus of at least 130 dN/tex and an energyabsorbed during fracture of at least 8 J/g. Strong fibres are preferablyfibres having a strength of at least 10 dN/tex, a modulus of at least200 dN/tex and an energy absorbed during fracture of at least 20 J/g.More preferable are fibres having a strength of at least 16 dN/tex, amodulus of at least 400 dN/tex and an energy absorbed during fracture ofat least 27 J/g.

[0015] The invention also relates to a ballistic vest according to claim1, with an areal density of less than 2.8 kg/m².

[0016] The invention will now be elucidated by means of a few examples.

[0017] By the ‘areal density’ (AD) of a fabric or UD layer or pack isunderstood the fabric or UD layer weight per surface unit.

[0018] The PBO fibre used in the experiments was a Zylon® fibre fromToyobo, having a titre of 1100 dTex. There are two versions of Zylon: HM(high modulus) and AS (as spun), the characteristics of which, asspecified by Toyobo, are given in Table 1: TABLE 1 Type Tensile modulus(cN/dTex) Zylon AS 1192 Zylon HM 1678

[0019] Preferably an as-spun grade of PBO is used. In spite of the factthat the modulus of Zylon AS is much lower than that of Zylon HM, ASgives better ballistic properties than HM.

[0020] Zylon UD is a pack of two layers laid crosswise in which thefibres in each layer run virtually parallel and are positioned normal tothe fibres in an adjacent layer, each layer being made of 1100 dTexZylon yarns. The yarn weight per layer amounts to 36 g/m². The Zylon UDpack comprises a matrix comprising a styrene-isoprene-styrene blockcopolymer and is on both sides covered with a polyethylene (PE) film of7 g/m². A Zylon UD pack has an areal density of 100 g/m². The matrixcontent amounts to 17 wt. % relative to the total of matrix and fibreweight.

[0021] Dyneema UD-SB2 is a pack of four layers laid crosswise in whichthe fibres in each layer run virtually parallel and are positionednormal to the fibres in an adjacent layer, each layer being made ofhighly drawn polyethene (HPPE) yarns. The weight per layer amounts to 33g/m². The UD-SB2 pack comprises a rubber matrix and is on both sidescovered with a PE film. A UD-SB2 pack has an AD of 155 g/m².

[0022] Dyneema UD-SB31 is a pack of two layers laid crosswise in whichthe fibres in each layer run virtually parallel and are positionednormal to the fibres in an adjacent layer, each layer being made of HPPEyams. The weight per layer amounts to 59 g/m². The UD-SB31 packcomprises a rubber matrix and is on both sides covered with a PE film. AUD-SB31 pack has an AD of 132 g/m².

EXAMPLE I

[0023] Vests of stacks of a varying number of Zylon-UD packs were firedat with a .375 Magnum JSP bullet with a velocity of 426+15 m/s. At theback of each stack a Roma plastiline No. 1 pack had been affixed,conditioned in accordance with the NIJ 0101.03 Standard. In allexperiments the bullet was stopped. The trauma was measured. The resultsare presented in Table 2. TABLE 2 Number Areal density Velocity Traumaof packs (kg/m²) (m/s) (mm) 38 3.84 409 30 38 3.84 416 28 38 3.84 452 2634 3.43 447 29 34 3.43 457 30 32 3.23 435 39 32 3.23 442 38 29 2.93 44338 27 2.73 444 41 27 2.73 442 39

Comparative Experiment A

[0024] Vests of stacks of 29 UD-SB31 packs with a total areal density of3.8 kg/m² were fired at with a .375 Magnum JSP bullet with a velocity of435±5 m/s. All bullets were stopped and the average trauma was 39 mm.

[0025] With a vest made of a stack of 25 UD-SB2 packs, having an arealdensity of 3.3 kg/m², bullets went through.

[0026] This shows that with a weight of more than 1 kg less than that ofa HPPE vest based on Dyneema UD-SB31 a PBO vest can meet the NIJ2requirement.

Comparative Experiment B

[0027] Vests of stacks of 29 UD-SB2 packs with an areal density of 4.9kg/m² were fired at with a .375 Magnum JSP bullet with a velocity of435±5 m/s. All bullets were stopped and the average trauma was 35 mm.

[0028] With a vest made of a stack of 23UD-SB2 packs, having an arealdensity of 3.6 kg/m², bullets went through.

[0029] This shows that with a weight of more than 1.7 kg less than thatof a HPPE vest based on Dyneema UD-SB2 a PBO vest can meet the NIJ2requirement.

[0030] What is surprising is that WO9749546 does not teach that PBO isbetter than aramid, that PBO in general even is not better than PE, butthat PBO is surprisingly good in the light of NIJ2.

Comparative Experiment C

[0031] Example I and Comparative Experiments A and B were repeated witha heavier stack and the vests were tested with a Magnum .44 bullet inaccordance with the NIJ3a Standard.

[0032] The numbers of packs required in order to just meet the NIJ3aStandard are stated in Table 3. TABLE 3 Material Number of packs Arealdensity (kg/m²) Zylon-UD 46 4.7 SB31 34 4.5 SB2 34 5.3

[0033] This shows that in the case of a vest which is subject to theNIJ3a Standard, PBO does not offer special advantages compared with HPPEfibre.

1. Ballistic vest which offers a ballistic resistance meeting NIJ2Standard 0101.03 and comprises a stack of flexible unidirectional layersin which the unidirectional layers contain strong fibres and in whichthe fibres in a unidirectional layer run substantially parallel and arepositioned at an angle of more than 0 degrees relative to fibres in anadjacent layer, characterized in that the fibres are PBO fibres. 2.Ballistic vest according to claim 1, wherein the areal density is lessthan 2.8 kg/m².
 3. Ballistic vest according to claim 1 or 2, wherein thePBO is an as-spun grade, with Tensile modulus below 1200 cN/dTex.